The New England Revolution will reportedly add another affiliate club in 2019 when Hartford Athletic joins the United Soccer League.
Michael Davies, who co-hosts the Men in Blazers podcast, broke the news on the upcoming partnership during a live show Wednesday evening with Revolution President Brian Bilello and head coach Brad Friedel.
Hartford will be the Revolution’s fourth affiliate program in six years.
New England created a similar partnership with the USL’s Rochester Rhinos in 2013. According to the Rochester coaching staff, it concluded in 2016. In 2013, the Revs also started a partnership with the now-defunct Real Boston Rams, formerly of the Premier Development League.
Most notably, Sporting CP and New England became affiliates in 2014. The Revolution have sent players and coaches to Lisbon to train and learn from their Portuguese counterparts. Additionally, the Revolution acquired Portuguese central defender Sambinha on loan from Sporting in 2015, though the player remained on the fringes for most of his time in Major League Soccer and now plays in the Indian Premier League.
Hartford Athletic announced it will play at renovated Dillon Stadium, just outside downtown and 93 miles from Foxborough, when the 2019 USL season starts next March.